Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Rehoming my dog

42 replies

raspberryripple86 · 06/06/2021 16:52

I just wrote a very long post and it frustratingly got deleted. In a nutshell, I absolutely adore my dog but he she has issues with her bladder, further testing and surgery massively exceeds what I can afford to pay on top of insurance plus only has about a 60% success rate. The initial testing was done several months ago and I just accepted the fact that for the next 15 or so years I'll have a rubbish sleeping pattern (she's not in pain or discomfort I should add) but a year down, as selfish as it might sound, I'm really bloody tired. Tried if been woken up multiple times a night, tired of washing and cleaning urine every day. I've decided I need to give her up to dog trust or somewhere similar, hopefully they can rehome her to someone who can afford the surgery or has more than one adult to help with night shifts or is able to put a large dog flap in their door or something. I'm not sure why I'm posting. I've spoken to different vets trying to find a different solution, tried nappies and puppy pads, water schedules, prescribed medication etc etc contacted charities to see if they can advise or point me int he direction of somewhere that will do it for the insurance limit plus what I can afford on top etc.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has rehomed their dog and how did you cope? Everytime I think about it I feel so heartbroken, hence putting it off for so long, I can't picture myself actually doing it but this is not something I can do long term as I'm exhausted all the time and it's starting to affect everything.

OP posts:
KurtWilde · 06/06/2021 16:55

Someone who knows more is likely to come along soon but as far as I'm aware dogs trust and the like may not take on a dog with needs for surgery. I'm more then happy to be proven wrong! But surely they'd struggle to find a home for a dog with health issues and need of surgery?

SirVixofVixHall · 06/06/2021 17:09

. Is she still a puppy ? Do you have any sort of diagnosis ? Is she not insured ?

GooodMythicalMorning · 06/06/2021 17:16

What have they said is wrong?

cupsofcoffee · 06/06/2021 18:20

Just be aware that they may not take her.

PollyRoulson · 06/06/2021 18:52

What is her actual condition?
What breed is she?
What age is she?

PollyRoulson · 06/06/2021 18:52

Does your vet know how hard you are finding things?

VettiyaIruken · 06/06/2021 18:54

Have you asked the vet about payment plans? Or a dog charity to see if they can help?

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 06/06/2021 19:03

Most vets will do a payment plan

We had an emergency op plus other stuff for one of our dogs and we paid a small down payment then paid a monthly amount.

The insurance then paid their bit direct to the vet.

We now have a healthy fully recovered happy dog

tabulahrasa · 06/06/2021 19:05

Could you kennel her at night?

CaffeineAndCrochet · 06/06/2021 19:15

Could she sleep outside or could you have a dog door fitted? I think you can get ones that only open if there's a matching chip on the collar.

Original poster
raspberryripple86 · 06/06/2021 19:18

She isn't a puppy anymore, but was diagnosed as a puppy. So far they've diagnosed (can't remember how they phrased it, sorry it was a while ago but one of her kidneys isn't working properly, this wasn't picked up on blood tests but found on ultra sound so I think not too much of a problem as one of them is doing all the work although obviously not good) small bladder, pelvic bladder, ectopic ureter..that's all I can remember at the moment. One of the vets said she would speak to the people above her to see what they can do with my budget but I never heard back despite contacting to ask for an update. I have called charity's but places that offer low cost treatment can't help as it needs to be specialist. A friend of a friend who is a retired vet had said back when she was a vet they didn't have all these expensive scans and would still do safe successful surgeries (although in all her time as a vet hadn't personally seen the ureter problem) so I did ask the vets if they could operate on what they know for certain/what they've Seen on the ultrasounds they've already done and what's within budget ie moving her bladder forward in the hope it'd at least make an improvement but they want to do all the tests/scans etc before they'll even give me a quote for the operation, I suppose they just want to do everyone in one operation. (Sorry hope this is making sense, just dropped and cracked my phone so I can barely see what I'm writing now).

OP posts:
Original poster
raspberryripple86 · 06/06/2021 19:24

I'm not allowed to fit a dog door where I am i have asked as that would've been perfect, then I could've done the tests bit by bit over the years with each renewal til they have enough info to do the surgery.
I must admit one thing I haven't tried is having her sleep outside but I really don't think she'd cope at all, plus it's not secure enough/someone could take her

OP posts:
SamMil · 06/06/2021 19:33

I don't think I could rehome my dog in this situation - you are essentially passing on the problem to someone else and you don't know how she will be treated in the future, even if she is rehomed via a charity.

Could you do more to follow up on payment options, if they haven't come back to you? Or, if no luck, ask for her medical records and go to a different vet for a second opinion/more flexibility financially?

Can you get dog nappies or something to help in the meantime? Sorry, no experience of this, so no idea how good they are!

tabulahrasa · 06/06/2021 19:50

“I must admit one thing I haven't tried is having her sleep outside but I really don't think she'd cope at all, plus it's not secure enough/someone could take her“

A kennel and run with galvanised doors that you can lock and heat should be fairly secure and easier to cope with than a shelter tbh.

PollyRoulson · 06/06/2021 19:59

Can you train her to wee indoors. Dogs will use wee areas just like cats will if you train them.

Floralnomad · 06/06/2021 20:09

My sister has trained her dog to go on a puppy pad by the backdoor if she can’t get out , not ideal but the dog is 19 so struggles to hold on for any length of time . She’s got a thick plastic pad holder that you clip the edges of the puppy pad in so it doesn’t drift about and is all contained.

cupsofcoffee · 06/06/2021 20:26

You can get indoor "doggy toilets" - would she use one of those? I know they're popular in America where many people keep dogs in flats with balconies :)

ThePoetsWife · 07/06/2021 05:56

Have you contacted PDSA or Blue Cross to see if they would do the treatment at reduced rates?

MrsBongiovi · 07/06/2021 06:07

There’s no way I’d give my dog up for this. Train her to wee on puppy pads inside when you’re not around. One of our dogs does this.

One of the vets said she would speak to the people above her to see what they can do with my budget but I never heard back despite contacting to ask for an update.

You should chase this up surely rather than give your dog up.

moonbedazzled · 07/06/2021 06:29

I used to work in animal welfare and, sadly, you would be extremely fortunate to find someone to take on a pet with so many problems. Once you'd signed it over, you'd probably never know what happened to her and there's a good chance she'd either end up in kennels forever, which is no life for her, or she'd be put to sleep. I don't say that to make you feel awful, because it's clear that you're very caring and you've tried your hardest but conditions like hers are relentless and exhausting. If she is a pedigree, contact the breed rescue. Sometimes they will give assistance towards medical fees. Or if you wish to rehome, they will often do that from your house so you can see who she's going to.

There are a string of vets called Animal Trust Not For Profit and, as their name implies, their prices are much lower than regular vets. You might find your share of co-pay to be lower. Have you tried one of the veterinary universities, like Liverpool. Unusual cases are interesting to them as they are obviously involved in training new vets. They sometimes do things for free or at cost. Good luck and I hope things work out for you.

HerMammy · 07/06/2021 06:34

I think to consider giving your dog up due to a health condition is pretty callous.
Do you think that’s in her best interests?
Chase up the vet instead of complaining about the situation!

mercimacherie · 07/06/2021 06:40

Have you considered trying a different vets for a second opinion?

pilates · 07/06/2021 06:47

I think your dog would be a struggle to rehome and would be put down.

SoapboxFox · 07/06/2021 06:53

I think your dog would be a struggle to rehome and would be put down.

Realistically, yes I also think this.

Providora · 07/06/2021 06:58

Isn't there any way at all you can create outdoor access and a secure area outside for her to go?

My dog sometimes has to take meds that make her very thirsty (and therefore she wees a lot) and I just leave the back door ajar for her.

Granted that's into a very secure yard ibut if that's not the case for you, a smaller fenced area/playpen (depending on your dog's size) could work? Depending on the type of door and how it opens, it can be made reasonably secure so a small/medium dog could get through but not a person. Can you tell us about your setup and maybe we can help with ideas?